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www.spec.com.au PORTLAND OBSERVER Monday February 16 2015 3 Whooping cough detected at Portland day care centre COURTNEY MAGANN A GOODSTART Early Learning Portland staff member has been diagnosed with the highly contagious whooping cough (pertussis). A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson confirmed the department was notified on Thursday, and have since advised the staff member to remain at home until they have completed five days of antibiotic treatment. “Children who were in the same room as the staff member and are not fully immunised against whooping cough are requested to also stay at home for 14 days, or five days if they undertake antibiotic treatment,” the spokesperson said. JULIE Hart stands upon the soapbox to recite a poem at the last event of the inaugural Fringe Arts Portland festival on Friday night. The ‘Under the Corkwood Tree’ event was a night of bush ballads and poetry. Picture: ELLY HATELEY 150213eh08 Three killed in crash near Casterton A BABY girl, a woman and a man have died, and one other is critically injured after a car crashed into a tree near the Victoria-South Australian border yesterday morning. The vehicle was travelling on Casterton-Penola Road near Lake Mundi, about 30km west of Casterton, when it struck the tree shortly before 7.30am. The front seat female passenger and a baby girl were both confirmed deceased at the scene. The male driver was freed from the wreckage by the CFA after being trapped for more than two hours. He was taken to Mount Gambier Hospital but did not survive. A boy sustained critical abdominal, head and pelvic injuries while a girl has minor injuries. Both children were airlifted to Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital where they are listed as stable. Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said the accident happened in a relatively remote area. “All emergency services were there including the SES, ambulance, police and the CFA,” he said. Five ambulances attended the scene. Any witnesses are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Loaves and Fishes funding cut From: PAGE 1 Mr Morrison also said the Department of Social Services had less funding to offer this year. “Regrettably the government’s budget repair task means there is a reduction in the overall size of the Department of Social Services grants program,” he said. Mr Keller and the Loaves and Fishes board would now be meeting with local and federal politicians to discuss the next move. Member for Wannon Dan Tehan confirmed that he would meet with the board this week, and was already prepared to do all that he could to help reinstate the federal funding. “I’m a big supporter of Loaves and Fishes, I’ve seen first hand the work they do,” Mr Tehan said. “I will be fighting to get the funding restored.” Glenelg Shire Council mayor Robert Halliday said the potential loss of Loaves and Fishes would be “catastrophic for the whole shire”. “Council are certainly very sympathetic towards their situation, they are a great organisation, and we are very grateful for all that they do,” he added. Cr Halliday also said council would do what it could to assist Loaves and Fishes to seek alternative funding. Mr Keller stressed that while the federal funding was crucial to meeting the overall running costs of Loaves and Fishes, it wasn’t the only financial contribution it received. “We have individuals and local organisations that make financial contributions, as well as help from some of the local churches,” he said. Mr Keller said the board was currently focusing on the current facts, which meant the organisation would take the process step by step. “We would just like to keep people up to date, and know that at the end of the day, we just want to make sure those who need these services have these services.” The state government recently announced it will reintroduce the free whooping cough vaccine program for expectant parents and parents of newborns. Secondary students from Years 7 to 10 are also set to receive whopping cough vaccinations this year. “We urge all parents to ensure their children are fully immunised against whooping cough, and the government will soon introduce its ‘No Jab, No Play’ policy which will require children be fully immunised for their age before they can be enrolled in childcare,” the spokesperson said. “The whooping cough vaccine is free to children as part of the National Immunisation Program at two months (it can be administered at six weeks), four months and six months, and four years.” Older children and adults are more likely to contract the disease as their immunity from childhood vaccinations fades over time. helloworld Portland 53 Julia St, Portland 03 5521 7895 T: E: portland@helloworld.com.au OCF20284423